“Persistence can look a lot like stupid.”

“The surest path to success is to learn to have a healthy relationship with failure. If we aren't failing, then we aren't doing anything interesting.”

“It takes great courage to write great books. Find your courage and find your voice.”

“Burn like a bonfire in whatever you do”

“Seasons are like life. Some seasons are better than others. Some have more sun and rainbows. Others have storms and tornadoes. Some have both. You have to accept that, and bring colour and light to the season you're in as best you can, and always look forward to the next season.”

“I didn't respond to him. Couldn't speak at all. Couldn't look at his self-mutilation--not even the clean, bandaged version of it. Instead, I looked at my own rough, stained house painter's hand. They seemed more like puppets than hands. I had no feelings in it either.”

“It just wasn't for me, and anyway, those people were a lot more far gone than I was. More in my father's league than mine. I just cut back a little. Less beer and liquor, more jogging. I was fine.”